willowbank help.............

Hi i think SAS the boss on here ( when his chick lets him) does some sort of guiding service.
If your anywere close to me Wirral i can take you in & show you a few nice venues, sort you out with some rigs/ end tackle.
If you fancy it were having a fish-in on Lakemore in Crewe next year, pop along.

i have had a scoot about the forum and you guys all seem really helpfull, its really refreshing to see when the carp lads on forums often fill people with crap and most pike anglers wont even give you the time of day.. i might come along to the fish in and possibly spectate, might be a good way to learn the ropes, im also now wondering wether my 2.75lb TC rods will be up to the job.... maybe using my spod and marker rod for catfish work methinks,

note... i will supply beer and food to anyone willing to point me in the right direction lol

hi mate your 2.75 rods will be fine mate i personaly use 2.75 rods as i think it is more sporting. were are u based mate it may help if some one lives near u

im in lincoln, not far from willowbank, been round to have a look last year and saw quite a few fish, no cats but some big carp...

question to anyone whos fished willowbank... is it worth the high price? i heard its 40quid for 24hrs or something???!?!?

I went once this year with SAS, Catman and Slain - caught a nice pike - I had a very enjoyable day and will certainly be back more often in the new year.

Fingers crossed I will actually catch a cat next time

Early on in the season mate we are down at willowbank regularly, come along, bring your gear and we will sort you out with a cat or two if they are in the mood. Dont worry about the rods, only just stepped up to 3lb test. Used the same as you for about 5 years and had some real fun with them. Its about how you play them is all. My first willowbank session will be late march but if you want we can do a day session early april and I will sort you out with anything you want. And dont worry about the fish in, come along and have a go. There a few lads on here that are in the same position as you so by september you should be well on your way. Its all inclusive this site, I try to make sure of that so dont be worried, we are all learning new things all the time.

cheers guys, i will probably pop down to willowbank sometime when your fishing for a bit of a natter on what to bring and basics, im sure most of my carp gear will be up to the job, managed to get some cat gear off a mate last night, some ton up and some hooks that to me as a carpman look like shark hooks!!!! i know the lakes at willowbank arent massive so im guessing i can get away with my normal reels with 15lb mainline can i? or should i be stepping up a bit. been reading about and it seems that basically catfishing is a cross between carp and pike fishing (both thankfully i have experience at) the only difference im guessing is the fight itself?

really looking forward to hooking into one in the new year. and meeting you guys too

thanks again for the advice, whats the price at willowbank now? i heard it was going up this yr?

STill 20 quid for the day and 40 for the night as far as I know but I am off down to see mick in a few weeks so I will double check. As for tackle wise I would be tempted to step the mono up to 20lb, once those cats get you under a tree for twenty mins your line takes a beating, apart from that mate it sounds fine, and I am sure the lads will agree that once you hook a decent cat nothing else in this country will ever do. The fight is everything, its why we sit in the rain, sun and wind for days on end with nothing to show for it, just waiting to hook into that animal power. You dont quite get what its all about untill you have hooked one.

can,t wait to catch my first one.....

it will come next season nidge

Just a quick heads up lads, have booked the 26th and 27th of march off work for the first session at willowbank. Anyone who wants to join me is quite welcome.

Its a bit to close to the Lakemore date for me mate,But i will do Willowbank again sometime next year.

i would of but dowt id be able to get time off work as its hectic at the moment and will be for the next up coming year

i may pop down for it if i can get time off for it, cant wait to have a go at some of those willowbank beasts

Was planning on doing an overnighter to try out the new bivvy so it will lunch time thursday I get there. Would be nice to have some people there, I mean who will take the photos for me, lol.

Me too mate, will be fun. An overnighter too by the way.